Key exhibitors at the convention prompted the move, choosing instead to redirect resources to the relief effort
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has postponed its annual convention, due to be held in New Orleans from 18-20 September, following the terrorist attacks in the USA last week. A new date and format will be determined, says the NBAA.
The decision to reschedule the world's largest business aviation event came after several key companies, including Bombardier, Cessna, Gulfstream, Jet Aviation, Raytheon Aircraft and Tag Aviation, decided to pull out. One leading exhibitor said: "The decision was made during a conference call between the head of NBAA [Jack Olcott], the General Aviation Manufacturers Association [Ed Bolen] and around dozen major exhibitors."
In a statement, the Washington-based association says: "Many chose not to attend for security reasons and have committed business aircraft and other resources to assist in disaster relief efforts". Gulfstream president Bill Boisture supports this claim, saying: "We have offered the Gulfstream aircraft that would otherwise have been on static display to support national contingency and emergency and medical missions."
It is unclear at this stage what the financial repercussions will be for the NBAA and the convention's record 1,071 exhibitors and 30,000 planned visitors.
Source: Flight International
